You completely spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’re really busy. Fortunately, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for a test. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking over your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Here are 7 simple ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. There may be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more subtle. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. Some things you can list out include:
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Was it hard to hear the television? How high is the volume? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- Is it frustrating to have conversations on the phone? Keep track of times when it’s harder to hear people than normal.
- Did you have trouble making out a conversation while eating out in a packed restaurant? Does that happen frequently?
This type of information is very useful for us. If you can, note the time and day these symptoms occurred. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Research hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? It’s an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you presume. A good time to get some valid info is when we inform you that hearing aids would help you.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed up the process and help you get better information.
3. Go over your medical history
This is another moment when writing things down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-discussion. Before you come in, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. Write down major medical incidents and also minor ones. Here are some examples:
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medical devices you might presently use.
- Illness or diseases you’ve experienced that stick out in your mind.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
4. Loud noisy settings should be avoided
If you go to a loud rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to impact the results The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your exam. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will ensure the results are a reliable reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, talk to your insurance company
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing assessment, particularly if it’s part of a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be a great deal more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in certain instances. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a family member or friend in with you
There are some important benefits to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not entirely necessary. Among the most notable benefits are the following:
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info during your appointment. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- Even when you can’t tell that you have hearing impairment, people close to you will certainly be aware of it. So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it could be days or weeks before you get your results. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. With a hearing exam, you will get the results immediately.
And even better, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can enhance your overall hearing health. That could mean using some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing exam. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.